A furious finish?: Fined Denny Hamlin could be fired up for NASCAR's stop in Las Vegas

Maybe Denny Hamlin can channel his fury over his $25,000 fine from NASCAR into a fast finish at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hamlin got docked for his pessimistic comments about the new Gen-6 car, yet most drivers think Sunday's race is their first real chance to test their new vehicles on the intermediate tracks they're built to race.

After coming in third in Phoenix, Hamlin clearly knows what he's doing in the new car — but so does Jimmie Johnson, who followed up his Daytona 500 victory with a second-place finish last week.

Brad Keselowski was awarded the pole after rain scrubbed Friday's qualifying session. Hometown favorites Kyle and Kurt Busch also will be looking for improved performances, while Danica Patrick will start 37th.